Search Help

How does this work?
There are many ways to search the collections of the Freedom Archives. Below is a brief guide that will help you conduct effective searches. Note, anytime you search for anything in the Freedom Archives, the first results that appear will be our digitized items. Information for items that have yet to be scanned or yet to be digitized can still be viewed, but only by clicking on the show link that will display the hidden (non-digitized) items. If you are interested in accessing these non-digitized materials, please email info@freedomarchives.org.
Exploring the Collections without the Search Bar
Under the heading Browse By Collection, you’ll notice most of the Freedom Archives’ major collections. These collections have an image as well as a short description of what you’ll find in that collection. Click on that image to instantly explore that specific collection.
Basic Searching
You can always type what you’re looking for into the search bar. Certain searches may generate hundreds of results, so sometimes it will help to use quotation marks to help narrow down your results. For instance, searching for the phrase Black Liberation will generate all of our holdings that contain the words Black and Liberation, while searching for “Black Liberation” (in quotation marks) will only generate our records that have those two words next to each other.
Advanced Searching
The Freedom Archives search site also understands Boolean search logic. Click on this link for a brief tutorial on how to use Boolean search logic. Our search function also understands “fuzzy searches.” Fuzzy searches utilize the (*) and will find matches even when users misspell words or enter in only partial words for the search. For example, searching for liber* will produce results for liberation/liberate/liberates/etc.
Keyword Searches
You’ll notice that under the heading KEYWORDS, there are a number of words, phrases or names that describe content. Sometimes these are also called “tags.” Clicking on these words is essentially the same as conducting a basic search.

Search Results

Democracy Now!: The Best of Enemies: a story of friendship between a prominent member in the KKK and a Black Civil Rights activist Democracy Now!: The Best of Enemies: a story of friendship between a prominent member in the KKK and a Black Civil Rights activist
Date: 7/4/1996Call Number: KP 123Producers: Pacifica Radio ArchiveProgram: Democracy Now!Collection: General materials
A very interesting and inspiring interview between two friends brought together by their similarities after many years of highlighting their differences. CP Ellis was the Exalted Cyclops of the Durham, NC, Ku Klux Klan when he met Ann Atwater, a militant black community organizer. They were elected to organize the public school system through the AFL-CIO. While there was much hostility to their interactions, they soon learned that they shared many of the same problems as working/lower class citizens struggling in an impoverished school district. Their friendship grew from this connection and led Ellis to leave the KKK. He talks about the hardships he faced as a result of this. Also interviewed is Osha Gray Davidson author of The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South a book about the two’s friendship. This book was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1997.
Pro Libertad: Esperanza Martel Pro Libertad: Esperanza Martel
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: PM 315Collection: Puerto Rico
Esperanza Martel, a Puerto Rican independentista, gives a brief history of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. She also discusses the colonial relationship between PR and the US and cites the violations of the PR constitution by FBI surveillance and harrassment of activists. Also discussed is the underground resistance movement, Los Macheteros (the Machete Wielders, also known as the Boricuan Popular Army) and political prisoners such as Elizam Escobar, Ricardo Jiminez, Adolfo Matos, Edwin Cortes, Ida Luz Rodriguez, Alicia Rodriguez, Dylcia Pagan, Luis Rosa, Alejandrina Torres, Carmen Valentine, Alberto Rodriguez, Antonio Camacho Negron and Oscar Lopez Rivera.
La Habana Si (Havana Yes) La Habana Si (Havana Yes)
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: Vin 038Producers: Areito, Los Van Van, Juan FormellCollection: General materials
A compilation of hits by the Castro-era Cuban band Los Van Van, led by songwriter Juan Formell. Following the Cuban Revolution, the government instituted a policy of recruiting youth talents to various sectors: sports, science, and music to name a few. The regime discovered Los Van Van, sponsoring several tours domestically and abroad. Called 'the Rolling Stones of Latin music' Los Van Van revolutionized and popularized Cuban music in the 1980s and 90s.
Sample Letter to Attorney Janet Reno Sample Letter to Attorney Janet Reno
Publisher: Campaign to Stop Control Unit PrisonsYear: 1996Collection: American Friends Service Committee
Sample letter to Att. General Janet Reno to request investigation into human rights violations at control unit prisons. Part of 10/15/1996 mailing.
NCSCUP Steering Committee NCSCUP Steering Committee
Publisher: Nozomi Kuta, United Church Board for Homeland MinistriesYear: 1996Collection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter to Bonnie Kerness re planning for 4/27/1996 hearings and regional updates on activities. Part of 2/1996 mailing
Lockdown Lockdown
Publisher: Jonathan Franzen (Details Magazine)Year: 1996Collection: American Friends Service Committee
Photocopy of article on USP Florence, CO. General information on facilities. Part of 12/1995 mailing. 3rd copy Part of 2/1996 mailing.
Trouble coming every day: ADX -- The first year Trouble coming every day: ADX -- The first year
Publisher: Raymond Luc LevasseurYear: 1996Collection: American Friends Service Committee
Details neglect, abuse and conditions at Florence Supermax, CO.